It all adds up for Lennox Mathematics

It's not exactly an inspiring rallying cry, but Lennox Mathematics, Science & Technology Academy had a lot to cheer about on Friday.

Hundreds of students, teachers and staff at the campus celebrated their new status as one of the nation's best high schools.

U.S. News & World Report recently ranked the academy 21 out of more than 21,000 high schools. This is the first time Lennox earned its "Gold Medal" status from the national news magazine.

Vice Principal Mario Villanueva said he was ecstatic when he heard the news.

"We were talking with U.S. News and they told us they would be visiting and they were doing this, but we didn't think we would be as high as we were," he said.

"The school is only 6 years old and we are very proud of what we were able to accomplish so far. It's so nice to get the recognition."

He attributed the success to the lofty expectations from teachers, administrators and students that the kids will all move on to college or other education options once they graduate.

"From Day One that was our goal and that's what we tell our families. That's the No. 1 reason for coming here," Villanueva said.

"And that's just a focus from top to bottom starting from the principal to the teachers.

"The teachers work hard and put in a lot of time for their students and the relationships that they establish. We've really stressed the idea of familia and that shows at the end."

Villanueva said the future goal is to expand Lennox to a 600-pupil campus from 500 but make sure the school doesn't get too big so that students can continue to get the attention they need.

The school's Academic Performance Index, the state's academic measuring stick, has grown to 758 in 2008 from 733 in 2007. Similar schools with the same demographics and size have an average API of 659, according to state officials.

Superintendent Bruce McDaniel said the award is simply a byproduct of helping students learn with innovative lesson plans, coupled with extended tutoring.

"I'm extremely proud of our staff, students and parents for this accomplishment."

Lennox was one of four South Bay schools that cracked the top 100. The others were

Carson-based California Academy of Math and Science, at 26, Hawthorne Math and Science Academy High, at 70, and Inglewood's Animo Leadership High School, at 94.

The survey, based on information from the 2006-07 school year, honored schools that served all students well while preparing them for college.

Junior Vivian Valiente said the experience at Lennox has been "great" and "challenging" and she hopes to one day make it to either Columbia University in New York or Harvard to study law.

Senior Andy Rodriquez, 17, said the school has been a haven for a lot of kids like him that have gone through classrooms that have given up on students.

He plans to either study biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara or literature at California State University, Fullerton.

"One thing I can say about the teachers here is that they are there for you," he said.

"In the Classroom" is a series that homes in on what is happening at one South Bay school each week. If you think there is an interesting class, teacher or program in the area please e-mail Nguyen Huy Vu at vu.nguyen@dailybreeze.com or call him at 310-543-6627.